Shetland pony Dolly was rescued from a life of laminitis and neglect in May 2016, aged around 7. All 4 feet were horrendously overgrown and infected, and she could barely walk. As a result, her body was twisted and deformed. She came to The Laminitis Site, where her feet were slowly returned to a normal shape with regular trimming guided by x-rays, and the infection treated with CleanTrax soaks and antibiotic sprays. She received daily TTouch therapy and massage under the guidance of TTouch practitioner Danielle Dibbens, was micro-chipped, vaccinated, wormed and had her teeth checked. She was put on a low sugar/starch diet based on analysed hay and a balancer, with no or (later) restricted grass, and once she was more comfortable, she had blood tests to check her insulin, ACTH and glucose levels, to assess her risk of further laminitis.
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Although Dolly has made good progress, the permanent damage she has suffered to her feet and body - she has asymmetry through her body particularly towards the tail, abnormal growth of her front feet, a stilted front leg gait, her hind legs twist on soft ground, and x-rays have diagnosed reduced bone density throughout her body and arthritis in her hind legs - means that she needs constant specialist care and is not currently suitable for rehoming. Her left fore deep digital flexor tendon has become thickened and contracted, and she now needs a tenotomy operation to improve her mobility.
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(Left) Dolly's reduced bone density, compared to the same bone in a healthy horse (right), taken on the same day with the same x-ray equipment.
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As well as day to day costs like her feed balancer (Spillers Lite + Lean) to provide her with important protein and minerals, fed with a low sugar chaff (Dengie HiFi Molasses Free), low sugar hay that is analysed in the USA (Equi-Analytical) and soft bedding to cushion her feet, and routine care like vaccinations and worming, she needs frequent x-rays and hoof trimming to keep her damaged feet well aligned, hoof boots and pads to protect her feet from hard ground, CleanTrax soaks and Animalintex poultices if she develops a foot abscess, joint supplements to help with the arthritis that affects many of her joints as a result of years of restricted movement, blood tests to monitor her insulin levels and therefore laminitis risk, and to check for PPID, and rugs and face masks to protect her from insects, rain and cold, as getting to shelter takes her a little longer than an undamaged pony.
Dolly's care relies on generous donations, and any donation, no matter how small, is gratefully received and helps us to keep Dolly as healthy and happy as possible.
Dolly's care relies on generous donations, and any donation, no matter how small, is gratefully received and helps us to keep Dolly as healthy and happy as possible.
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Donate through PayPal Giving Fund
With a Paypal account, you can donate an amount of your choice through PayPal Giving Fund. 100% of your donation will reach The Laminitis Site, and PayPal will collect Gift Aid, if applicable, on our behalf, increasing your donation by 25% at no cost to you. Donate through Just Giving |
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Become a Friend of The Laminitis Site
If you would like to learn more about laminitis, EMS and PPID, you might like to make an annual donation of £10 and join Friends of The Laminitis Site and its Facebook support group, where you can get information and support for any horse you care for affected by these conditions. |
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Shop online through Easy Fundraising to raise money for TLS without it costing you a penny!
Supporting The Laminitis Site doesn’t have to cost you anything! Over 4,000 shops and sites will donate to The Laminitis Site for free when you use #easyfundraising to shop online – including Ebay, Tesco, Sainburys, John Lewis, M&S, Amazon, Argos, Asda, Boots, Lakeland, Waitrose… If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s easy and your donation won’t cost you a penny https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/thelaminitissite/… Please remember to use #easyfundraising every time you shop online to help The Laminitis Site to help horses and ponies with laminitis. |
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You can follow Dolly's progress on her Facebook page: Dolly's Rehabilitation.
